How many people are able to forgive someone that has irrevocably hurt them? I wonder what the statistics would be on a large scale public opinion poll.
Would people lie and say that they are more likely to forgive than they would be if the situation were more than a hypothetical question?
If people did lie, how would they justify it to themselves? Would they tell themselves that they will be more forgiving in the future, or that they can't let anyone know how unforgiving they would be?
I wonder if people would even be able to admit to themselves that they are less forgiving than they would like to think. The idea fascinates me, but then I need someone's forgiveness at the moment and so I'm dwelling on forgiveness.
Ah, to be forgiven....
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)
"To understand is to forgive, even oneself." ~ Alexander Chase
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)
"Life is an adventure in forgiveness." ~ Norman Cousins
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:20-22)
"He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven." ~ Thomas Fuller
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~ Mohandas Gandhi
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. (Luke 7:47)
"The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods." ~ Elbert Hubbard
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him. (Luke 17:3-4)
"When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future." ~ Bernard Meltzer
"One forgives to the degree that one loves." ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld
"Forgiveness is the final form of love." ~ Reinhold Niebuhr
